1979 BMW 320i 4-speed

History

Paul Bracq served as the director of design for BMW between 1970 and 1974 and has long been credited with the styling of the new 3-Series. Taking many hallmarks from prior smaller BMWs, the new 3-Series would be longer and wider with a more relaxed windshield rake and yet a taller overall profile would allow for easier ingress-egress.  With the aim of being efficient, the new 3-Series was often criticized for being a little slow, but what critics normally failed to mention was the higher degree of creature comforts the new car offered while remembering the rough-n-ready sporty nature of the popular 2002. It’s hard to replace a superstar – but the new E21 was a superstar in its own right, just on a much quieter scale. Not everyone wants to drive a racecar to work.  The cabin was considerably quieter, the seats were more supportive, the chassis was more supple and refined and yet lacked little by way of driving dynamics. But it was a bit heavier than the outgoing 2002-style cars, and with a modern engine sapped by emissions control units, it was not as peppy as previous models. But it was an exceptional driving machine, it was enjoyable to drive and easy to maneuver, it handled more predictably than previous BMWs and turned normal mortals into enthusiasts, just like BMWs before it. Interestingly, the Design Museum London proclaimed the E21 as one of “Fifty Cars that Changed the World” in its book of the same title.